University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Utah
Gophers Drop Tight 4-3 Match
2/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Feb. 27, 2016
The No. 58 University of Minnesota Gophers took the doubles point for the ninth time this season but fell 4-3 to No. 66 Utah in Madison, Wis.
"The team had a tough assignment to come back after an emotional win last night," head coach Chuck Merzbacher said. "We got the doubles point but just could not find enough matches to get it done. This team is competing well and we have a lot of tennis left. Hats off to Utah for a well-played match."
The loss today comes after the Gophers took their sixth straight border battle win over Wisconsin last night.
The doubles dominance continued today started first with a victory by Caitlyn Merzbacher and Mehvish Safdar. The duo is 5-2 together this season.
After Utah took the doubles point at one it was up to Caroline Ryba and Julia Courter to seal the doubles point for the second straight day. They did not disappoint winning a close 7-6 (0) match. That win moves them to 6-1 on the year.
Utah tied things up 1-1 with a victory at the No. 3 spot before Ryba topped Utah's Margo Pletcher 6-1, 6-1 to go undefeated on the weekend. Ryba now joins the 10 win club and is 10-6 on the season.
Utah again tied things up with a win at No. 5 and took their first lead of the match winning at No. 2.
Jessika Mozia won her singles match for the second straight day to tied the match up 3-3 with a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 4. Mozia also moves into double digits in the win column holding a 10-6 record.
It came down to the No. 6 spot and Utah was able to come away with the win there to take the match.
For the first time since the Courtside Classic the Gophers will return to Baseline for two matches next weekend. They take on Buffalo Friday evening at 5 p.m. and host Iowa State Sunday morning at 11 a.m.
#66 Utah 4, #56 Minnesota 3
Feb 27, 2016 at Madison, Wisc. (Nielsen Tennis Stadium)
Singles competition
1. Caroline Ryba (MINN) def. Margo Pletcher (UTAH) 6-1, 6-1
2. Sarah Richter (UTAH) def. Julia Courter (MINN) 6-4, 6-3
3. Brianna Turley (UTAH) def. Paula Rincon-Otero (MINN) 6-3, 6-1
4. Jessika Mozia (MINN) def. Jena Cheng (UTAH) 6-4, 6-4
5. Taylor Calton (UTAH) def. Annemarie Emme (MINN) 6-2, 6-1
6. Alexia Petrovic (UTAH) def. Camila Vargas Gomez (MINN) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Margo Pletcher/Brianna Turley (UTAH) def. Paula Rincon-Otero/Annemarie Emme (MINN) 6-4
2. Caroline Ryba/Julia Courter (MINN) def. Sarah Richter/Alexia Petrovic (UTAH) 7-6 (7-0)
3. Mehvish Safdar/Caitlyn Merzbacher (MINN) def. Taylor Calton/Luisa Da Rosa (UTAH) 6-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,1,5,2,4,6)
Players Mentioned
